HIT: Elem. book clubs

[Bonnie LaClave <blaclav@IN-MOTION.NET>]

Hello Friends,
        Here is what I found out concerning elem. book clubs.  Thanks to all who
replied.

Several times I have had "Chat N Chew" with my fifth graders.  The
program takes 3 weeks, 3 titles, and 3 parents.
        I divided all the children who participated into 3 groups.  Each
parent volunteer was responsible for 1 book.  She/he read the book and
devised activities related to the book.  I tried to choose books which were
well-written as well as high interest.  Some of the titles I used were _Snow
Treasure_, _The Cay_, _The Pinballs_ and _The Whipping Boy_.
        Each group of students was assigned one of the books to read.
Each group had a separate title.  I had about 10 copies of each book which
the students received on Friday afternoon.  They had until lunch time on the
following Friday to complete the book.  The group would then get their lunch
trays and meet as a group with the parent volunteer to eat, discuss the book
and do the activity.  After the discussions, the books were collected and
handed out to the next group.  The groups just rotated.  Every student was
involved each week for the three week period.
        One of the students made my day when he said, "Hey, these books were
good, even better than Goosebumps!"
******************

Yes, I started an after school book club last year and made it available to
3rd through 5th graders just because 6th were so involved in after school
activities away from school and graduation and all and I decided to try
younger kids after I gave this a trial.  I am doing it again beginning the
end of Oct.   The club ran for 6 weeks and met weekly for 1 hour.  I grouped
the kids into "reading groups" so that they were reading the same book in
their group but they weren't necessarily in the same grade.  The kids loved
it!  They all enjoyed the books I picked, and I rotated from group to group
talking about the book....so I read all the books.  Sometimes they read aloud
to each other, taking turns, other times they read silently until they got to
a certain page I told them to read to and then we discussed it.  Other
activities were drawing pictures about the character, acting out a scene, and
giving a review after completing the book to the other groups.
Hope this helps, and let me know if you have more questions or get some
interesting feed back or ideas....I would love to have some other ideas to
try out myself!
**********************

I actually had a bookclub at my last school that worked exactly like the one
you describe. I sent a notice home with students that had a permission form
at the bottom and asked them to return it to me if interested. From the
returned slips I selected eight students. I did it by grade level (one 3rd
grade book club and one 4th grade which met different days). It worked very
well and was identical to the plan as you outlined below, so go for it!

*********************

A wonderful fifth grade teacher and I did a once-a-month evening book
club for fifth graders and their parents.  It was probably the most
enjoyable thing I've ever done (in school).  Once a month was the limit
because they didn't have time to read more than that -- these were more
demanding books such as Summer of the Swans, Monkey Island, The Giver,
Nothing but the Truth, and Lyddie.I wish I'd written an article on it!

********************

We have a state reading program where students all over
the state read the same books and vote on the one they like
best. It's call Virginia Young Readers and it is sponsored by
the state reading association.  Anyway, I tried for several
years to get my fourth grade students who wanted to read the
books to come to lunch to discuss what they had read.  I was
never very happy with the results.  The students loved it
though.  They felt like it was a treat. However, the students
had never read the same number of chapters, pages, or books
they were all in a different place.  The ones who had finished
one seemed to forget most of it soon after reading it and moved
on to another.  Now, i don't really blame the students I didn't
have the set-up quite right.  They were happy and I will try it
again -- I'd love to know how you arrange yours.  Perhaps, you
need to be sure they have read the same material to get a good
discussion going.  Good luck and happy reading.

********************

I haven't done this either but have also been thinking about doing
something along the same line.  We want to try to help our 4th and 5th
graders who are reading below grade level.  I was going to suggest the
book or reading group idea to my principal, now I may wait and see what
responses you get.  That is, if you wouldn't mind sharing what you learn
with me?? I'd appreciate it very much.  One of my thoughts aobut this
was that the group would read the same book, discuss it, and create some
project (poster, computer project??) to show understanding or
impressions about the book.

*********************

I did not get the opportunity to follow thru with my plan, but
here it is.  (This was planned two years ago at another school, but one
teacher complained, so it was cancelled.)

        Each grade had a 40-minute period one day a week for special
activities.  Monday, 5th; Tues, 4th; Wed., 3rd; Thur., 2nd, Fri., 1st
and K.  During this time, they could have Art Enrichment (chosen by Art
teacher), Music Enrichment (chosen by Music teacher, Physical Education
Enrichment (chosen by PE teachers), or one of my various activities
(number partcipating set by me).  The students not participating, would
do a classroom activity.

        My plan was to have a book club on Tuesday for 4th grade.  My plan was
somewhat different.  Each of us would chose a book by a specific author
or about a specific subject.  We were to meet and present our choice to
the group, using any kind of device we chose.  It could be oral,
dramatic, artistic, etc.  Our single meeting was a huge success, with
one child dancing a presentation.







*************************************************************
Bonnie LaClave                  Phone 765-436-2333
Library Media Specialist        Fax  765-436-2630
Thorntown Elementary
200 Mill Street
Thorntown, IN 46071
*************************************************************

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